THE first feature-length film to be filmed at Valleywood studios has been shown on big screens across the country.

THE first feature-length film to be filmed at Valleywood studios has been shown on big screens across the country.

Ironclad, a £20m action thriller about a 13th century siege, was shot entirely in the Llanilid studios and was officially released in cinemas on March 4.

The movie stars Sir Derek Jacobi, James Purefoy and Mackenzie Crook and depicts the plight of King George as he fought for power with his barons at Rochester Castle.

A full replica of the Kent castle was built on the 60,000 sq ft site, and a cast of hundreds were hired to re-enact the medieval battle.

Despite companies behind the site owing £15m to creditors, a number of new productions have been lined up in the coming year to use the Valleywood site for filming.

David Ferris, a spokesman for Edward Symmons, has assured Welsh film lovers that the site will be used solely for production purposes and will not be sold off for new housing or school developments.

He said: “It was fantastic to see the production taking place there. This film will be a catalyst for the rest of the site to take off.

“It was scary to see some of the cast dressed in medieval costumes - it’s incredible how much know how there was on the set.

“Ironclad has already been given some very good reviews, so that’s very pleasing to see.

“Last year we had three different productions at the studios, including Doctor Who and period drama Upstairs Downstairs, so there is plenty of interest here.

“I have been inundated with a mix of television and film offers for Valleywood, so watch this space.

“During the initial planning, there were strict conditions that the site was to be used for filming. A building such as offices could not be used.

“The long goal is to sell the site as a studio, not as anything else.”

Originally, Ironclad was earmarked to be shot in Germany and Hungary, but a collapse in sterling caused the producers to look elsewhere.

The Wales Screen Commission stepped in to bring the film to Rhondda Cynon Taff, which has also had backing from the Wales Creative IP Fund. Valleywood is owned by Dragon International Studios and Westair Properties Ltd, both of which went into administration in March 2008.

Administrators Price Waterhouse Coopers, who were called in after the debts escalated, said the site has taken longer to develop than was originally envisaged.

The set experienced grant problems and had to delay filming in 2005 as a result of rare doormice being found in the area.

Rob Lewis, regional chairman at Price Waterhouse Coopers, said the £330m studio project, which was given the go-ahead in 2001 on a former opencast mine, will continue to be the centre for valleys filming for the foreseeable future.

“There is no particular threat of the studios closing,” he said. “Things remain exactly as they were a few months back.

“The door is always open for new investment and new filmmakers to come to the site and we know the Welsh Screen Commission are working to achieve this.”